Don Advocates Rural Development for Sustainable Security in Kogi

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A lecturer in the Department of History and International Studies at the Federal University, Lokoja, Dr Suberu Ochi has called on government at all levels and other stakeholders to pay more attention to issues of rural development as a way of ensuring sustainable security in the country.

Dr Ochi made the call in a paper presented at the Project Close-out meeting of the System and Structure Strengthening Approach Against Radicalization to Violent Extremism organised by Action Aid Nigeria in partnership with Participation Initiative for Behavioral Change in Development.

He pointed out that the mass movements of jobless youths from the rural areas to the urban centres due to lack of development at the grassroots often compound security challenges in the country.

“Most urban areas in Nigeria have grown beyond their environmental carrying capacities and existing infrastructure. This has resulted to increased poor quality of the living condition. Out of frustration due to overpopulation, these youths are drawn into crime.

“It should be observed that achieving sustainable security within the state and as a matter of fact in anywhere world over should not be seen as government affairs.

“For sustainable security to be achieved, all hands must be on deck. Stability of internal security is vital for the states or nations to realise their political and economic objectives. For that, security is development and without development, there can be no security.

“In addition, those occupying various offices within and outside the state should understand that rural development is key to sustainable security. They should look back to their roots and think how they could develop the economy in their rural areas”, he said.

Dr Ochi maintained that once economic activities in the rural areas are revived, it would not only encourage sustainable security but would equally check rural/urban drift thereby checking the issue of violence and extremism.

He also stressed the need for the government to ensure a complete overhaul of security institutions in the country to guarantee sustainable security.

He pointed out that addressing poverty, unemployment, injustice, corruption and proliferation of arms and ammunition would enhance sustainable security in the country.

Ochi urged traditional rulers and religious organisations to emphasize on leadership style that would entrench peaceful co existence.

In a remark, the Country Director, Action Aid Nigeria, Mrs Ene Obi represented by Mrs Tasallah Chibok, said the programme was targeted at reducing violent extremism among the youths and empower the less privileged women.

In a goodwill message, the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, represented by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Edward Onoja, commended Action Aid and urged them to extend such gesture to more rural areas of the state.

Also in a goodwill message, the Head of Fulani Community in the state, Alhaji Dauda Abdullahi, commended the organisation for its role in putting an end to Fulani-farmers clashes in the state.

The representatives of two communities that benefitted from the Poverty Alleviation Programme of Action Aid Nigeria in Adavi Local Government Area and Ofuloko in Igalamela-Odolu Local Government Area, Mr Kaka Audu and Alhassan Godwin respectively, thanked he organisation for bringing succour to the less privileged people in their communities.

Credit: Daily Trust


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